Shoe attachment



Nov. 1l, 1924.

' 1,515,086 l.. s. BALUTA SHOE ATTACHMENT vFiled April 2v. 1921 Lennard. 5.2Elaluca l Patented Nov. l1, 1924i,

LEONARD S. EALUTA, OF BER'WICK, PENNSYLVANIA.

snonl ATTACHMENT.

Application filed April '27, 1921.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD S. BALUTA, a citizen of thel United States, residing at Berwick, in the countyV of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Attachments, of which the following is a specification. Y v

This invention relates to improvements in shoes, and the primary .object of the invention is to provide a novel device carried by the shoe for facilitating the positioning` of the shoe of the low quarter type on the foot, which will eliminate the use of any extraneous object, such as a shoey horn for this purpose. y

, Another object ofthe invention is to provide a shoe attachment embodying a flexible guide carried hy the rear end of the shoe or slipper for guiding the foot into the shoe or slipper, the flexible guide being so'formed and associated with the shoe in such a manner as to form a cushion for the heel of the wearer of the shoe and a protector for the quarter 0f the shoe, the guide eliminating or taking the place of the ordinary back stay of the shoe. j i

, A further object of thejinventionv is to provide a, guide for shoes `ofj thelow quarter type, ffor facilitating the placing l of the shoes on. the foot, which embodies means for engaging a rubber or overshoe, when worn, so as to prevent the slipping orriding up. and down of the heel of the over. shoe on the shoe,

A still further object of the invention is to lprovide an improved 'guidejfor facilitating,l the ,placing of the shoe on t-he foot, 'whichis'so constructedl as toadd to rather than vdetract from the appearance of the shoe, and which kcan be incorporated with ordinary types of shoes, without changing the mode ofmanufacture thereof, and without adding to the cost of manufacture thereof.

Withthese and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specificallyy de scribed, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings: n

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe with the improved guide attached thereto, the guide being in its extended yposition for Serial No. 164,970.

acilitating .the placing of the shoe on the oot. Figure 2 is a rear elevation of a shoe with the guide incorporated therewith, showing the guide in its inoperative normal position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the shoe and attachment taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the attachment used for holding an overshoe inl place against movement.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates a shoe; B, the improved attachmentk therefor; and C an overshoe. f

rlhe shoe A may be of any preferred type or character'and as shown is of the low quarter or oxford type, and embodies the sole 5, they insole 5', the heel 6, the vamp 7, and the quarter 8.

The attachment B takes the place of the usual back stay and is adapted to be folded over the back of the quarter as clearly L shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and the attachment B adds to the appearance of the s ioe.

` The attachment B can be formed of any flexible material but preferably of leather of a suitable color to harmonize with the shoe with `which it is associated. As shown the attachment B includes, a body l0 which extends into'the interior of the quarter vof the shoe at the rear end thereof, and extends up from the inner sole of the shoe, the inner end of the body is held in place` by fastening rivets 13 or in any preferred manner. The inner end o-f the body 10 can be placed between the insole 5 and the heel 6 if so desired. As shown vther shank 11 of the resilient head l2 o-f the ball and socket fastener 13 is utilized for holding the same in place. The body 10 is adapted to extend above t-he shoe for a considerable distance to ferm. a tab or pull lll and when the at-y tachment is not inuse, the tab 14 is adapted to be folded over the rear end of the quarter and is shaped similar to the ordinary back stay and isL adapted to take the place of the ordinary back stay. The extreme outer end of the tab 14 carries the resilient socket 15 which forms a part ofthe socket fastener 13, and this socket is adapted to engage the head l2, which holds the tab in position.

The means of associating the body 10 with the shoe does not form any bulky or cumbersome attachment, and the same is hardly noticeable on the shoe.

If so desired the outer surface of the head 15 of the ball and socketv fastener 13 may be engraved or impressed with the ownerls initial or with a suitable fraternal emblem or the like.

The body portion 10 of the attachment which is positioned within the shoe forms a cushioning for the heel of the foot and prevents the rubbing of the heel by the shoe and prevents the riding up and down of the shoe on the heel of the wearer.

In use of the improved attachment, the socket 15 is removed from the head 12 and the tab 14 is raised to its extended position as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings and held in this position by the hand off the user as is very clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The shoe is placed on the foot in the ordinary manner, and the body will form a guide for the heel of the foot and direct the same into the shoe. The attachment also forms a means for pulling the shoe on the foot as is readily apparent. rThe tab 14 being arranged on the outer surface of the shoe at the rear end thereof forms a wear member for the shoe and prevents the same from becoming scarred and the like.

As stated in the objects of the specification, the attachment can be conveniently used for holding overshoes or rubbers in position on the shoe fork preventing the overshoe from riding up and down on the heel portion of the shoe. In this instance, the over-l shoe which is designated by the letter C can be provided with a resilient head 16 and the tab portion 14 of the attachment B is adapted to be placedover the outer surface of the heel portion of the rubber and the socket 15 snapped over the head 16. Thus it can be seen that the' overshoe will effectively be held in position.

To prevent wear on vthe inner surface of the overshoe by the resilient head 12 of the ball and socket fastener 13, a guard plate 17 which can be formed of metal or the like is secured to the inner face of the heel portion of the overshoe. If so desired this plate 1,7 can form a portion of the shank of the resilient head 16 carried by the overshoe.

When o-vershoes are worn, of the type which merely include a. sole and la heel strap, the tab 14 is placed around the strap and the socket 15 is placed over the resilient head 12. ltthus can be seen that the tab will engage the strap and prevent the rsame from riding out of engagement with the rear portion of the heel of the shoe.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that an exceptionally simple and durable attachment has been provided for shoes of the low qua-rter type, which will not only facilitate the positioning of the shoe on the foot, but will also act as a guard for the rear end of the shoe as a cushion for the heel of the foot of the wearer of the shoe and as a means for holding' overshoes on the shoe.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

1. The combination with a shoe, of a guide therefor including a body secured at its lower end to the inner surface of the heel portion of the shoe and having` its side edges free and a tab arranged to extend exteriorly of the shoe.

2. rlhe combination with a shoe, of a guide attachment therefor for facilitating the position of the shoe on the foot of a wearer including a flexible body4 secured at its inner end to the inner surface of the heel portion of the shoe and having its side edges free to permit swinging movement of the guide attachment.

3. vThe combination with a shoe, of a guide attachment therefor for facilitating the positioning of the shoe on the foot of a wearer including a flexible body and a tab, and means securing the lower end of the flexible body to the inner surface of the heel portion of the shoe at the rear end thereof the side edges of the body being free to permit swinging movement of the body.

4l. The combination with a. shoe, of a guide attachment, therefor comprising a flexible body and a tab, means for securing the bodyv to the inner surface of the shoe, and means for detachably securing the tab to the outer surface of the shoe the side edges of the body being free to permit swinging movementy of the body.

5. The combination with a shoe, of an attachment therefor including a flexible body, secured at its inner end to the inner heel portion of the shoe, the side edges of the shoe being left free to permit swinging movement of the body, a tab arranged to extend exteriorly of the shoe, a resilent head carried by the outer surface of the shoe including an attaching shank portion, the shank portion engaging the flexible body to hold the same in position on the inner surface of the shoe, and a socket member carried by the outer end of the tab for engaging the resilient head.

6. The combination with a shoe and an overshoe, of an attachment for the shoe and overshoe including a flexible body secured at its lower end to the inner surface of the shoe, the side edges of the body being left free to permit swinging movement of the body, and a flexible ltab yarranged to extend exteriorly of the shoe, a resilient headj carried y the outer surface of the shoe, aresilient head carried by the outer surface kof the llO overshoe, and a' socket carried by the tab arranged to engage the resilient head carried by the shoe When the overshoe is notl in place or the resilient head carried by the overshoe when the saine is in place 0n the shoe.

7. The combination With a shoe, of an attachment therefor including a flexible body, means securing the inner end portion of the 10 body to the inner surface of the heel portion of the shoe With the inner end of the body extending bet-Ween the heel and insole of said shoe and the sides of the body free; a

tab arranged to extend exteriorly of the taohably securing the outer end of the tab in a turned down position.

LEONARD S. BALUTA. 

